Interview with H Spees
In an election year that has favored "political outsiders", H Spees has broken out in to the local political scene in his run to replace beloved Fresno mayor Ashley Swearengin. We sat down with him to ask the tough questions that our city has been waiting to have answered.
Is it true that, if elected, you would be the first Mayor of Fresno to have just a single letter for their first name?
Yes.
The elephant in the room for any candidate running for Mayor in Fresno is that Mayor Swearengin is leaving some pretty large shoes to fill. How would you build upon her legacy? Are there any policies of hers that you disagree with?
Mayor Swearengin has been a great leader for Fresno, smart and hardworking. In addition to helping us through the difficult days of the recession, Ashley has served our city well by leading us in a new direction for developing core neighborhoods while maintaining a commitment to building new housing on the periphery. Her work on reducing homelessness, improving specific neighborhoods, and improving downtown have shown incredible fortitude and foresight. I would have cut law enforcement less and rebuilt it more quickly.
Unlike your opponents Henry Perea and Lee Brand, you have not yet held an elected political office. How does this affect your campaign? Even if you believe Fresno "needs" an outsider, do you think Fresno will be receptive to one?
I have worked for over 30 years with leaders in business, law enforcement, education, government and the non-profit sectors. I have started and run corporations with multi-million dollar budgets that have delivered health care, housing, community development, jobs, and educational opportunities in Fresno and other communities. My opponents have both presided over rising crime rates, homelessness, and blight. I have reduced crime and blight and have a plan to reduce homelessness to minimal levels within two years through tough and tender policies that will affirm the dignity of the homeless while helping them find pathways off the streets while holding accountable "urban campers," aggressive panhandlers and criminals hiding in the homeless stream.
People I talk with every day in neighborhoods throughout Fresno say they are looking for someone who will give Fresno a Fresh Start in law enforcement, code enforcement, economic development and education.
What aspects of your platform do you think set you apart from your opponents?
I have 3 key planks to my platform that drive toward exponential rather than incremental improvement: Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, Good Paying Jobs in a Thriving Economy, and Educational Excellence in our Schools insuring Bright Career Futures for our kids. Neighborhoods, Jobs, and Schools.
I am for fighting blight and slumlords by establishing an internal inspection program for rental housing that is paid for by irresponsible landlords. I will also engage neighbors in holding slumlords in their neighborhoods accountable through a model program piloted in another California city that is impacting $92 million worth of properties through an annual investment of $300,000.
I am for a cultural shift in the police department toward community policing resulting in every neighbor in every neighborhood knowing the name and cell number of their neighborhood officer. Crime is up 16% in 2015, 31% so far in 2016. We are experiencing a public safety crisis that neither of my opponents want to acknowledge because it has happened on their watch. One of my opponents, Henry Perea, will attempt to raise a public safety tax to pay for increased law enforcement. My other chief opponent, Lee Brand, wants to sell off city assets to pay for more officers. I have proposed the 95-5 plan or the "Public Safety Protection Act" that will require the State to leave 5% of all State Income Tax Revenues with our city and other cities as a sustainable funding stream for public safety. I have asked former Mayor Alan Autry who successfully fought and beat the State in 2004 with the passage of Prop 1A to lead the charge on the 95-5 plan and he has agreed. I will also fight for a change in state policies that send hundreds of convicted felons on to our streets.
I moved my family into the highest crime, lowest income neighborhood when crime was at its peak in 1993. We reduced crime and have seen remarkable turnaround, with much more to do. But we must make a promise to ourselves never to allow Fresno to return to those tragic days. Rising crime can undo much of the good taking place in Fresno now. As your mayor, I give you my word to do whatever it takes to keep our city safe.
Your website states that you "worked with Fresno business and community leaders to help start a private development organization to tackle difficult projects in tough inner city areas ranging from the rehab of historic homes to the development of a key city block downtown." Which "key city block downtown" in particular are you referring to?
Over thirty years I have worked with residents in multiple neighborhoods to establish neighborhood associations, plan their own neighborhoods such as with the build out of the Community Regional Medical Center, and establish their own community development corporations to increase home ownership in established neighborhoods. I have worked on rehabbing historic homes in the Lowell neighborhood, but the most complicated project was L Street between San Joaquin and Amador which ultimately required engaging many volunteers, churches, a private investor, a major developer, community non-profits, and the housing authority. It is beautiful today and Jake Soberal, owner of Bitwise Enterprises and a supporter of mine, credits our work over years with the establishment of the first Bitwise at the corner of San Joaquin and L Streets.
Your website also states that you "[served] on commissions and boards related to economic development and public safety." Are their any boards in particular that stand out to you as being particularly effective?
I have served as Chairman of the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Commission where we shut down and held accountable deficient juvenile group homes, on the Police Chief's Advisory Board where we supported the accreditation of the Police Department, the City of Fresno's Housing and Community Development Commission advocating for key projects including Kearny Palms Shopping Center, and on the Commission to establish an Independent Police Auditor which resulted in the establishment of the office based on affirming the good work of our police department and its need for ongoing community trust.
What is your stance on urban infill, specifically in Downtown Fresno?
I strongly support infill development, especially when led by robust, neighborhood owned community development corporations. I am for providing incentives to contractors and developers committed to responsible in-fill development.
Some are worried that Fresno is being revitalized through gentrification. Do you think this is the case? In your opinion, how is urban development achieved without gentrification?
I have worked with cities across the country who are working for "gentrification with justice," revitalizing inner core urban neighborhoods through a combination of new and rehab construction, giving options to current residents to be a part of a renewed neighborhood, with the goal of establishing stable, healthy mixed-income neighborhoods like those that have built American cities for years.
Were you for or against High Speed Rail? Now that it's moving forward, what opportunities do you think will be created for Fresno and how would you, as Mayor, support these opportunities?
The time is well past for the ideological argument over High Speed Rail. Bottom line: HSR is a reality and as our mayor I will fight for every job, every facility, and every contract, every way in which this project can benefit the people of Fresno.
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SEE ALSO: Interview with Lee Brand
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